CSI Fanatic

CSI Love You

by Rhys on November 27th, 2005

I dig CSI: not many people don’t. It’s entertaining and sometimes illuminating, with enjoyable characters and intriguing storylines. My favorite is by far the original CSI, followed by Miami, then New York. (Is CSI: New York anyone’s favorite?)

Every time I catch an episode, though, I have to wonder: what is up with the ratings system in this country? Could you imagine turning on a (non cable) network show, even after 9pm, and seeing characters walking around, completely nude? Of course not. That would never happen.

Do you remember when NYPD Blue premiered? Do you remember why it received so much attention? It wasn’t because of the excellent writing or impressive acting. It was because NYPD Blue planned to show a *gasp* bare bottom. Such an uproar had rarely been heard. The fans talked about it, the media covered it exhaustively, people even protested outside the network offices. It paid off though: as one crime drama among many, NYPD Blue may have been overlooked if not for this hoopla.

With all this excitement over a brief flash of bare skin, why do we not give the same attention to violence? You heard all about the butts on NYPD Blue. But nobody seemed to think it unusual or inappropriate to see butchered corpses pulled out of trunks and rivers. No crime show would ever fully expose a woman’s breasts. But they have no problem, time and time again, explaining in full detail how a female victim was raped and tortured before being killed and tossed aside as trash.

The CSI shows provide lingering, almost loving, close-ups of eyeballs being sliced apart, of sternums being ripped open and organs pulled out, of bodies burned and rotted and mangled beyond recognition. For a truly illuminating look at this comparison, pay attention to the crime scene photos both on crime dramas and real-life crime shows such as Cold Case Files: they’ll provide close-ups of fatal wounds and mangled flesh, but will blur out the genitals.

If a woman (or man) as a destroyed, repulsive victim is acceptable, why not a woman or man as a sexual being? Which would you rather have your children accept as the ‘norm’? Which would you rather see beamed into your living room? (By the way, I truly love that Disney was originally set to produce the show.)

Hey, I love me some CSI, so I’m not knocking the show, only the skewed values in American TV today.

Just look at what CSI franchise has given us: It’s taught us a huge amount of medical terminology, has given complete details on how to cover up a crime, and is single-handedly responsible for making forensics the hottest new major on college campuses everywhere.

Besides, where else can you see a guy spork out an eyeball?

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POSTED IN: Thoughts